Editor - I got a gig in Robin Williams' 1998 movie "What Dreams May Come" by answering an ad in The San Francisco Chronicle for extras in a new movie to be filmed at Treasure Island. The ad requested seniors, Asians and redheads. Back then, my hair color was definitely red. The director's vision for this scene in heaven called for colors of gold, orange and red. Funny thing is, to better fit the period of my medieval costume, complete with gold cape and lute, they put a long, red wig on my head, completely hiding my own, short-cropped, naturally red hair. They said they wanted me to be one of the six extras who fly. From my vantage point, I could see Robin preparing for his emotional scene in what turns out to be his film daughter's version of her own private heaven.

Take one: Robin screams loudly, readying himself for the director's cue to begin the dialogue.

Take two: Robin laughs maniacally, again readying himself for a second take at the same dialogue.

Take three: Robin goes off to the side and takes long, deep breaths, and once again launches into the same scene.

Right before the final take, the director said, "OK people, get ready for the scene ... and remember ... you're in heaven!"

Editor - The first college I attended in the United States was College of Marin, a community college where Robin Williams got his start in acting. The door of our drama department's faculty office had this picture of him with big Afro, tie-dye shirt and a pin badge that said, "I am nearly famous." We passed by his smile every day, and it was one of the great honors for us drama students at COM to receive the Robin Williams scholarship, which was taken from the funds he sent our drama department every year. I received one in 2000, when I was transferring to UC Berkeley to continue my college education, but it meant that I had to write a thank-you letter to Williams. I mean, what do you write to him? I was just some crazy, weirdo 21-year-old kid from Japan who admired him all his life. I don't even really remember what I wrote. Something about I will do my best to honor this, oh my God, I hope I am not gushing and making myself look stupid. Luckily, I had a chance to thank him in person a few years later.

I was in San Francisco's Japantown when I saw him. He looked like the shyest, most beleaguered person ever, but he did not refuse me when I said hi and started talking to him. I told him I was from Japan, I loved his work, that I went to COM and wanted to thank him for the scholarship. And he showed me this warmest smile and said something that sounded Japanese - though I was not sure what he said - as he left, waving. He did not look like he wanted to be bothered much, so it was really brief. But I cherish that interaction. Of the time I met my Captain, Our Captain. I loved him so.

Yo Frank, Los Angeles

Editor - Out of all the wide-ranging coverage on Robin Williams, it was very impressive and moving to see how much Leah Garchik wrote in such a close-up and social way. Especially passages and views mentioning Don Novello, Intersection performance venue, Mort Sahl and others. They showed Robin Williams' roots in artistic, experimental, social San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Editor - I got a lump in my throat reading Leah Garchik's column about Robin. Beautiful, heartfelt writing. I was lucky to interview Robin several times during my reporting years at KRON-TV. It was easy, just turn the camera on and point the microphone and don't interrupt with stupid questions.

Robin could even make an unborn baby laugh. In 1984, I was eight months pregnant and got to interview Robin backstage at the Democratic National Convention. He took the microphone away and pointed it at me, saying, 'Now we're going to interview the real important person here' and he riffed away, doing Q&A with my bulging stomach. My daughter swears it was her first laugh.

Jeannine Yeomans, San Francisco

Editor - I have been thinking about Leah Garchik's column all day. What a touching, insightful remembrance of Robin. So appreciated as I grapple with the loss of this truly good egg.

Editor - Thank you for Leah Garchik's recent columns regarding Robin Williams. Thursday's was such an intimate and wonderful window into his world.

All her footwork, meeting and melding with people big and small becomes worthwhile (for her readers) when she produces first, that brief, telling one-on-one and then something very different like today.

And her buddy Jon's column Thursday! Can't even comment on that. Going to send him my first-ever thank-you note after some thought.

We San Franciscans are fortunate to have the back page covered so beautifully.

Bonnie Jones, San Francisco

We want to hear from you. E-mail letters to datebookletters@sfchronicle.com, or send them to Daily Datebook, The San Francisco Chronicle, 901 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103. Include your name and city for verification. Letters MUST include the sender's city of residence to be considered for publication and may be edited for length and clarity.